JEFF FIELDER Editor
ALLIANCE – Madison Adam, a senior at Alliance High School, has been named First State Bank’s Female Student of the Week. She’s involved in National Honor Society, FFA, 4-H, and Key Club. Her GPA is 4.0. Her parents are Alex and Natalie Adam.
Q: Among the activities you’re involved in, which one do you like the best?
ADAM: “That’s a difficult question. All of them have a lot of great things about them. FFA is probably the club that I’m most involved in currently. It’s the second year that I’ve been president of that chapter. But I really love 4-H because I’m able to show my animals, which are a big part of my life.”
Q: How many years have you been involved in 4-H?
ADAM: “About 12 years.”
Q: How much do you enjoy being involved in FFA, especially being president?
ADAM: “Well, I’ve grown up on a ranch, so agriculture has been a huge part of my life. When I got to high school, I was excited for the opportunity to be involved in something. FFA is really great about teaching you and exposing you to a lot of different career options in agriculture because there’s so many different competitions you can participate in. You also get to meet other kids who are passionate about the same things you’re passionate about. It’s great to be around that kind of environment.”
Q: What area do you like to focus on in 4-H?
ADAM: “I’m one of the 4-H people who has dipped my toe into a little bit of everything. I do a lot of photography, baking, sewing, and crafts. Animals is definitely my favorite part of 4-H. I’ve shown poultry, horses, meat goats, and dairy goats. That’s my big thing. I have 10 dairy goats.”
Q: How has 4-H shaped you as a person and helped you grow?
ADAM: “4-H has given me a lot of responsibilities, and it’s taught me a lot of life skills.”
Q: What are your plans after high school?
ADAM: “After I graduate from high school, I’m planning to attend the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and I think I’m going to study agri-business.”
Q: What would you like to do for a career?
ADAM: “Right now, I’m not exactly sure where in the agricultural field I might end up. I love ranching. I would be more than happy to return home and run my family ranch, or I would also love to explore other options. So, we’ll see where the future takes me.”
Q: How excited are you to begin your college career? Also, are you a little sad that your high school career is about over?
ADAM: “I’m definitely sad that high school is ending because it means I have to say goodbye to a lot of big pieces in my life. I’m not going to be able to show animals anymore, and I’m going to have to say goodbye to some of my friends. But I’m also very excited for college and the opportunities that will come my way. I’m also excited to focus on what I’m truly passionate about, which is agriculture.”
Q: Up to this point, what achievement are you most proud of?
ADAM: “In 4-H my biggest achievement is probably winning both round robins, small and large animal. That was a personal goal of mine, and now that I’m aging out of the program, it feels good to know I’ve accomplished that. In FFA, I would say my biggest achievement is either being president for the past two years, or this past year I got second at state in employment skills, which was the best I’ve ever done in a FFA event. Academically, I’m very proud of my 4.0. I hope I can finish my senior year strong and continue that. I’m also very proud to be president of National Honor Society.”
Q: Talk about how important grades are to you, and how special is it to be involved in National Honor Society?
ADAM: “Growing up, my parents never said I had to have straight A’s. They, of course, wanted my grades to be good, but as long as I was trying, that’s what mattered. So, getting straight A’s has been more of a personal goal. It feels good that I’ve been able to be involved in a lot of activities and still maintain that GPA.”
Q: How challenging has it been to maintain a 4.0 GPA while also being involved in several activities?
ADAM: “Participating in a lot of activities and keeping my grades high just means I don’t get a lot of sleep. [laughs] I’m not one of those people who naturally picks up things; it takes a lot of studying and hard work. I’m dyslexic, so something that might take one person an hour to get, I have to spend three hours studying it. But I’m very dedicated, and I’ve learned how to manage my time. That’s an important part of it.”
Q: Have you always lived in Alliance?
ADAM: “Yes, I have. I’ve lived on a ranch just south of Alliance.”
Q: How much have you enjoyed growing up in the community of Alliance and attending Alliance Public Schools?
ADAM: “I love Alliance. It’s my hometown. It’s a great community. There’s a lot of activities, and people here are very supportive of each other. I see familiar faces everywhere, and all the businesses in town are really supportive of the public school system. But I haven’t been in public schools my entire life. I went to St. Agnes K through eighth grade, which definitely benefitted me, I think, because I got a lot of one on one time with the teachers, and it’s like a little family over there, which I loved. Once I went to the high school, I started making a lot of new friends. I also like having choices for elective classes. I’m able to take ag classes, which I love.”
Q: What is your favorite class this year?
ADAM: “I think agri-business with Mrs. [Ashtyn] Vivion is probably my favorite class because that’s what I want to study.”
Q: During your educational career, which teacher has made the biggest influence on you?
ADAM: “I would say my ag teacher, Mrs. Vivion. She started last year, and she has so much faith in me and gives me the confidence to try things that I thought I would never do. It means a lot.”
Q: In your opinion, who is the kindest person at Alliance High School?
ADAM: “It’s hard to choose because there are so many. I would say Mrs. Roxie Smith is definitely one of them. She’s an English teacher. She is the most dedicated person I’ve ever met. Her whole life goal is to spread kindness and make everyone happy.”
Q: If you were talking to someone who had never been to Alliance before, what is one place that you would recommend he or she visit in or around Alliance?
ADAM: “I think our city fountain is super gorgeous during the summer. Alliance is also known for Carhenge, so you can’t miss Carhenge. Also, I think downtown Alliance is cool, walking on the sidewalks and visiting all the little stores.”
Q: What is your favorite type of music?
ADAM: “Country, easily.”
Q: What’s the best vacation that you’ve ever been on?
ADAM: “My mom is actually from Australia, so every once in a while we go down to Australia for the summer to visit family. It doesn’t hurt that my grandma lives a few blocks from the beach.”
Q: Do you have any siblings?
ADAM: “I have one older sister, Anna. She’s 20 years old. She’s currently at Chadron State College, studying special education.”
If you would like to nominate someone for Nspire Today!’s Students of the Week, sponsored by First State Bank, you may do so by sending an email to jeff.fielder@nspiretoday.com or by mailing a letter to Nspire Today!, P.O. Box 454, Scottsbluff, NE 69363. Nominations may also be submitted by sending a text to 308-220-8865.
In addition to being recognized online, students of the week will also be recognized in Nspire Today! magazine. To sign up for a one-year subscription (12 issues) to the magazine, please send $15 to Nspire Today!, P.O. Box 454, Scottsbluff, NE 69363. To pay with a credit card, please call 308-220-8865. If you would like to increase your subscription to $20, Nspire Today! will donate the extra $5 in October to the Panhandle Humane Society.
First State Bank has been a community bank for more than 80 years with locations in Scottsbluff, Gering and Colorado Springs. First State Bank’s new mortgage center has the convenience of applying online without giving up the personalized customer service people have come to expect. Visit www.fsbcentral.com to find out why when First State Bank says, ‘We’re Big on You,’ they mean it. Find First State Bank on Facebook at firststatebank1935.
